Samsung finds 'inadequate' employment practices in China factories

South Korea based electronics maker Samsung has said that a probe of its suppliers in China had found no evidence of alleged child labour, but it did uncover some 'inadequate' employment practices.

The firm inspected 105 Chinese partners in September following a report by China Labor Watch that at least one supplier was employing children under the age of 16.

The US-based watchdog said staff at some plants were forced to work up to five times the legal overtime limit and denied basic labour rights.

According to the Herald Sun, Samsung said its investigators had reviewed employment records at all 105 suppliers and conducted face-to-face ID checks, but 'did not identify any instance of child labour'.

However, they did find 'several instances of inadequate practices' including excessive overtime and a system of fines imposed for lateness or absenteeism.

"We have identified the need for initiatives to reduce employee overtime as a top priority, and we are researching and developing measures that will eliminate hours beyond legal limits by the end of 2014," Samsung said.

"Although we did not identify any child labour during our audits in September, we have demanded all suppliers to adopt a new hiring process immediately, and contracts with suppliers who use child labour will be terminated," the firm added.

According to the paper, the tech firm said that from 2013, working conditions at all 249 suppliers in China would be monitored by a third party audit programme. (ANI)